Dell has added eight more days to the availability of PCs with Windows XP. The company previously said that final orders for XP PCs would be accepted until June 18, but now extended the deadline until June 26. And this time, final means final. As long as you are not buying a Windows Vista PC with a downgrade option (which is available with licenses for Vista Business and Vista Ultimate), June 26 will be the last day you can buy a Windows XP PC from Dell. There will be no exceptions after that date, we were told.
The downgrade option will be limited to the desktops XPS 630 and 720 H2C as well as the notebook M1730. According to Microsoft’s life-cycle policy, Windows XP Home Edition, Professional, Tablet PC Edition, Professional x64 Edition and Media Center Edition will no longer be available to the direct OEM and retail channel after June 30, 2008. System builder licenses will be offered until January 31, 2009. Mainstream support for Windows XP will remain available until April 14, 2009.
The downgrade option will be limited to the desktops XPS 630 and 720 H2C as well as the notebook M1730. According to Microsoft’s life-cycle policy, Windows XP Home Edition, Professional, Tablet PC Edition, Professional x64 Edition and Media Center Edition will no longer be available to the direct OEM and retail channel after June 30, 2008. System builder licenses will be offered until January 31, 2009. Mainstream support for Windows XP will remain available until April 14, 2009.